OPELIKA, Ala. (WTVM) - Nationwide, nearly 80 million drivers are expected to hit the roads during the Thanksgiving holiday, with Alabama anticipating record-breaking travel this year.
"We're going to have some full roadways in the state of Alabama this year," said Lieutenant Jeremy Burkett with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Thanksgiving marks not only the most wonderful time of the year but also the busiest. Troopers with ALEA predict that Thanksgiving 2024 will set new state records.
"We've seen that the day before Thanksgiving can be and has been one of the busiest travel days of the year, period," Burkett noted.
Toni Seaborn, traveling home to South Carolina, is eager to avoid traffic. "It's not like a long ways, it's just three hours. I got a three-hour drive, just trying to get through Atlanta traffic," she explained. "That's my biggest concern. I don't want to go that way."
Lt. Burkett emphasized the importance of safety reminders from State Troopers, particularly about wearing seatbelts and avoiding distractions while driving.
"When you get in there, you can make the decision to put on your seatbelt, and that's a choice you can make to protect your life," he said. "We've seen in years past, these things make a difference."
Alabama's Thanksgiving travel is also unique due to the Iron Bowl. This year, many will head to The University of Alabama on Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Burkett stressed the importance of being prepared for the influx of travelers.
"You're going to have a tremendous amount of people pouring into Tuscaloosa coming from all over the place," he said. "Those are the things, when we talk about planning ahead, those are the types of things we want people to think about."
"With that much, it's probably going to cause a delay. That's what I don't like, a long delay," Seaborn added.
The busiest return travel day is expected to be Saturday. Burkett warns that wearing your seatbelt can be the difference between life and death. He also mentioned that driver's license checkpoints will be set up after dark throughout the holiday period.